Trade, Tourism, Agriculture and Investment

Our mandate is to promote the economic, commercial and tourism interests of Mexico in Canada. As North American partners, we must strive to improve our competitiveness as a trading bloc and strengthen our economies.

Together with ProMéxico, we support the efforts of Mexican companies that have chosen Canada as a destination for their products, services or technologies. We also support Canadian companies seeking to procure goods and services or invest in Mexico.

Together with the Mexico Tourism Board, we promote Mexico as one of the primary and most beautiful tourist destinations in the world.

Why do business with Mexico?

Mexico is the gateway to the world's largest market

It forms part of the world’s largest economic bloc (NAFTA).

NAFTA Market = almost $18.7 trillion in 2013 (IMF).

Mexico has a network of free trade agreements that gives it preferential access to 45 countries. (1.143 billion people).

Mexico is a world-class tourist destination

The number of international tourist arrivals in Mexico in 2013 was 23.7 million, 1.4% higher than in 2012. (SECTUR)

According to Forbes magazine, in 2014 Mexico ranked seventh in the top international destinations in which to live after retirement.

Mexico is a leading exporter of high-tech advanced manufacturing

It is the largest exporter in Latin America.

It accounts for 35% of total trade in Latin America.

82.8% of exports in 2013 were manufactured goods.

Mexico is a major attraction for investment.

The amount of registered FDI in 2013 amounted to $35.19 billion –a record amount–, more than double the figure recorded in 2012.

Expectations for FDI inflows in 2014 are $24.25 billion.

Mexico offers modern, world-class infrastructure

The 2013-2018 National Infrastructure Program for Transport and Communications envisages a $100-billion investment by the federal government.

45% of the investment will go to modernize and expand transport infrastructure and 55% will be earmarked for telecommunications.

Mexico is a competitive country

Mexico has a lot of productive knowledge. It manufactures and exports a considerable amount of sophisticated goods.

Mexico offers competitive costs in North America

AlixPartners’ 2013 Manufacturing Costs Index ranks Mexico as a country with more competitive costs than China or the US for products like manufactured and assembled parts and consumer products.

Mexico has a favourable business environment

Mexico is one of the best places in Latin America in which to do business.

The World Bank’s “Doing Business 2013” ranked Mexico in 48th place out of 185 countries.

Investors need only nine days and six procedures to start a business.

Mexico has a young, talented and skilled population

According to the 2010 Census, Mexico has a population of 112.3 million people with a median age of 26 years.

More than 110,000 engineers and 2,000 doctors graduate each year in Mexico

For the period January-September 2014 the value of total trade in the NAFTA region was USD$839.6 billion representing a growth of 4.5% compared to the same period last year.

Within the North American block, Mexico's trade, along with its partner countries, went from 30.6% of the region's total back in the period January- September 1993 to 46.5% in the same period in 2014, reflecting the importance of Mexico as a trading partner of Canada and the United States.

Source: Banco de Mexico, Statistics Canada and USDOC

Bilateral Trade:

As for the Mexico-Canada trade, trade flows decreased 0.5%, amounting USD$26.3 billion. This value represents a bilateral trade increase of 824% in the NAFTA era, which also translates as an average annual growth rate of 11.2% between 1993 and 2014, the highest within the region.

Mexico – Canada Trade Balance

Mexico's trade surplus decreased 2.3%, going from USD$12.2 billion in January – September period 2013 to USD$11.9 billion in the same period of 2014.

Mexico kept its position as Canada’s 3rd greatest trade partner in the world, covering 3.7% of the Canadian market, only after the United States (63.8%) and China (7.4%).

Canadian Exports to Mexico:

Mexico ranked as the 5th largest export market for Canadian products (2.0% from total). Mexico was only exceeded by imports from the United States, China, the United Kingdom and Japan.

Source: Banco de Mexico and Statistics Canada

In terms of value, sales from Canada to Mexico totalled USD$7.2 billion, 790% higher than sales carried out in 1993.

The average annual growth rate of exports from Canada into Mexico between 1993 and 2014 is 11.0%.

Mexican Exports to Canada:

On a provincial-level Mexican exports to Ontario occupied 76.6% of the total followed by Quebec with 7.7%. The largest increases were 16.1% of Saskatchewan and Manitoba 8.8%. In contrast, sales fell 9.2% in Quebec and Alberta14.7%.

On September 2014, Mexico continued to keep its position as the 3rd largest supplier for the Canadian market (5.4%), after purchases from Canada to United States and China.

Source: Statistics Canada

Exports of Mexican products to Canada in this month totalled USD$19.1 billion, amount almost 10 times higher than the trade value registered in 1993 (USD$2 billion). The average rate of annual growth of exports from Mexico into Canada in the time NAFTA is 11.2%.

The fastest growing Mexican export goods were: engine parts for automobiles, computers, automobiles, trucks and equipment for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and routing.

1 The information contained in this report was developed using importer’s numbers shown in official sources such as BANXICO, Statistics Canada and USDOC (in the section of trade by province, only data from Statistics Canada was used). Figures shown are in USD in accordance to the average nominal exchange rate observed in the mentioned period.

Investment from Canada in Mexico

From January 2000 to September 2014, Canada’s cumulative FDI in Mexico reached USD$21.5 billion, becoming the fourth largest foreign investor in Mexico after USA, Netherlands and Spain.

On September 2014, 3,517 firms were registered in Mexico as having Canadian capital.

For more information visit the website of the Representation of the Secretariat of Economy in Canada: www.nafta-mexico.org

Mexico is one of the largest and most beautiful tourist destinations in the world. In 2013 it had the pleasure to welcome almost 24 million foreign tourists. If we also consider that 68 million Mexicans travelled within the country, it gives us an excellent picture of the services infrastructure Mexico has to welcome tourists.

Travelling through Mexico is full of surprises, although there is one constant, and that is the people’s passion to serve: faces showing mixed ancestry, frank smiles that welcome the traveller as a long-time friend, so eager to share their traditions and boast about the unique attractions of their home, their Mexico.

Mexico is world renowned for its sun and sand destinations, ranks third in biodiversity, fourth in cultural tourism, is among the planet’s top five countries for the number of World Heritage sites and among the best in terms of warmth and hospitality. It has a high installed capacity with respect to airports, roadways, lodging facilities and transportation.

Mexico is an amazing country and you can enjoy it in many ways, depending on your interests. Beaches, colonial cities, sporting or cultural events, nature tourism or adventure activities… in Mexico you can do it all.

Internationally, Mexico is one of the most competitive countries for productive investment due to its macroeconomic and political stability, low inflation, size and strength of its domestic market, economic growth rate and capacity to produce advanced manufacturing (high-tech products).

Mexico is an open economy that, through its network of free trade agreements, guarantees access to international markets. The country offers competitive costs and a strategic geographical location. It also features young, highly-skilled human capital.